“Anika, Nivianne and I grew up together. That surgery was an accident. Even if she didn’t use one hand, maybe your father wouldn’t survive anyway. The media is eating her alive now. Be good. Record the video. Explain it clearly. Then this will be over. The doctors are waiting, Anika... And after that, I’ll bring your brother out. Okay?”
He made it sound like he was asking, but his eyes… they told me I had no choice.
Do I have the right to refuse? Can I even say no? If I disagree, will I end up in prison too? Or will I end up like my father?
My heart felt like it was breaking.
I thought Wilbert loved me. For five years he gave me everything. Every gift, every whim, no matter how expensive, he made it appear for me. He never raised his voice at me, never scolded me. I thought he was my safe place.
But since my father’s failed surgery, I begged him over and over to help me, and all I saw on his face was hesitation. And now I finally know. He was never my safe place. He was the one holding the knife.
At first Wilbert said it was inconvenient for him to step in. He acted like it wasn’t his business. But the moment he found out the person involved was Nivianne, everything changed.